Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Chadwick on November 23, 2014, 05:36:30 pm

Title: Imminent belly failure
Post by: Chadwick on November 23, 2014, 05:36:30 pm
Working a bamboo/purpleheart/osage/walnut composite. I needed to leave more belly and or length, if it'll be walnut.

Oh, and if this was about my personal anatomy, the belly failure already occurred. :)
Title: Re: Imminent belly failure
Post by: bow101 on November 23, 2014, 05:51:29 pm
Oh well lesson learned move on to another one.  The bow looks short and to heavy to make an even bend.
Title: Re: Imminent belly failure
Post by: George Tsoukalas on November 23, 2014, 06:01:53 pm
The limbs look pretty thick to bend much. Perhaps, you forced it. Jawge
Title: Re: Imminent belly failure
Post by: Chadwick on November 23, 2014, 06:06:24 pm
Maybe it's not as thick as it looks. It was pulling 40# at 20" when I noticed fatal flaws.
Title: Re: Imminent belly failure
Post by: GB on November 23, 2014, 06:28:35 pm
If you try it again, use the osage for the belly and walnut for the core.  Osage is much stronger and way more elastic.
Title: Re: Imminent belly failure
Post by: mikekeswick on November 24, 2014, 02:32:42 am
You've got to be gentle, gentle when using walnut for a belly. It's very soft and not very dense the best backing for it is ash imo.
Title: Re: Imminent belly failure
Post by: blackhawk on November 24, 2014, 08:20:53 am
Lots going wrong there...put the walnut in the core n osage on the belly...IF you just have to have walnut as a belly use maple,ash etc(one of the lesser overpowering Whitewood's for backing),and then you have to go longer and much much wider than what you have....trying to use walnut as a belly in lam bows is a waste of time n materials IMO....I'd grind off the walnut n glue on some osage to save that if that's what ya wanna do
Title: Re: Imminent belly failure
Post by: Springbuck on November 30, 2014, 03:34:13 pm
  Walnt belly, bamboo back and a thick cross section is asking a lot of walnut.  The only good walnut bows I have made were hickory backed or self bows and 2.25" wide or so.
Title: Re: Imminent belly failure
Post by: Tree_Ninja on November 30, 2014, 03:41:07 pm


   That's a shame, looks like a lot of work went into that.  I get upset if I take too much off of a self-bow stave and it lowers the draw weight.

   I couldn't imagine the work that went into cleaning up those ply's and glue-up.   Maybe you could salvage the handle and glue it in-between some full-length boards/plys......  bamboo flooring?